In morbidly obese patients, the incidence of infection and major complications related to either infection or inadequate healing is 15-20% after gastric bypass based on our preliminary data and a review of records at Washington University. Roughly 30% of the American population is now obese with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2; about 5% of the population is morbidly obese, with a BMI exceeding 40 kg/m2. These patients are at extraordinarily high risk of wound infection, and infections in these patients are especially severe.